Travels around Japan

Niseko

Sitting on the summit of Niseko Annupuri, the highest peak in the Niseko range at 1,308 meters, one of the most iconic and breathtaking views in the region, particularly toward Mount Yotei (1,898 meters), a dormant stratovolcano known as "Ezo Fuji" for its resemblance to Mount Fuji.

Hiroshima Castle

Hiroshima Castle (広島城), also known as Carp Castle, is a reconstructed flatland castle in Hiroshima City. Built in 1589 by feudal lord Mōri Terumoto, it served as a key residence for the Hiroshima Domain’s daimyōs (Mōri, Fukushima, and Asano clans) until the Meiji Restoration (1869). Destroyed in the 1945 atomic bombing, it was rebuilt in 1958 as a concrete replica, with some wooden reconstructions.

Rock garden

The rock garden at Taizo-in, a Zen Buddhist sub-temple of the Myoshin-ji complex in northwestern Kyoto, is a stunning example of Japanese karesansui (dry landscape) gardening, designed to evoke contemplation and spiritual depth. The Inyo no Niwa consists of two contrasting karesansui gardens flanking the entrance path, framed by a spectacular weeping cherry tree. These gardens symbolize the philosophical interplay of light and shadow, purity and temptation, or enlightenment versus worldly desires.

Kurashiki

Achi Shrine (阿智神社), located atop Mount Tsurugata in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, is a historic Shinto shrine overlooking the picturesque Bikan Historical Quarter. Revered as the guardian of Kurashiki, it has a history dating back to the 4th century AD, according to the Nihonshoki (Chronicles of Japan), founded by the Achi clan.

Maneki-neko, Tokoname

The Maneki-neko, or "beckoning cat," is a Japanese figurine believed to bring good luck and fortune. Typically made of ceramic, it depicts a cat with one paw raised, often placed in shops, restaurants, or homes to attract prosperity and customers. The raised paw can be the right (for money and luck) or left (for customers and friendship), and colors vary, with white, gold, or black being common, each tied to specific blessings like purity, wealth, or protection.

Hiroshima - Peace Memorial Park

Built in 1915 as an exhibition hall in the European-inspired Nakajima district, the building featured a distinctive green dome and Art Nouveau elements. On August 6, 1945, the atomic bomb “Little Boy” detonated 600 meters above, destroying most of Hiroshima but leaving the Dome’s steel frame, dome skeleton, and parts of its walls intact due to its proximity and structural strength.